Hopefully, the majority of people who visit us here at Re-nest regularly have already replaced their traditional incandescent light bulbs with CFLs.
We know, the mercury is an issue and CFL disposal isn't as simple as tossing the thing in the trash. So, if any of you are still holding out because of the mercury ... well, this isn't exactly a solution, but it might put your mind at ease.
Sylvania's micro-mini-energy-saver compact fluorescent bulbs contain only 1.5 milligrams of mercury. Most CFLs contain about five. Now, mercury is mercury, and these bulbs will need to be disposed with as much care as a typical CFL.
However, less mercury is definitely a good thing.
Get more info over at SmartPlanet.
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Guess I'm one of the hold outs. Despite the environmentally friendly practices I have employed over the years, I still *refuse* to use alternative lightbulbs until there is a product offered that is completely mercury free. According to the US EPA, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. Some species have more or less, but it is alarming to me that all fish contain some amount of this harmful element.
Although the amount of mercury in CFLS may seem small, it is interesting to note that 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury, under the right conditions, could contaminate a 25-acre lake to the point that fish from the lake are unsafe to eat.
I do not think consumer products should contain this toxin, particularly as most States do not have mechanisms in place to recycle products containing mercury. Furthermore, we should focus our efforts on increasing sources of clean energy that minimize airborne mercury hazards irregardless of lightbulb used.
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